There have been no offer sheets handed out across the NHL this offseason. Although rare, the St. Louis Blues showed last summer that the strategy could pay off.
In August 2024, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong capitalized on the Oilers’ tight salary cap situation by signing Dylan Holloway and Phillip Broberg to offer sheets. Edmonton chose not to match, which proved to be a huge gain for St. Louis.
Both Holloway and Broberg went on to have breakout seasons in 2024-25, leaving many to question why the Oilers failed to retain them—especially Holloway, whose average annual salary was just $2.29 million.
Speaking on the Cam and Strick podcast, Holloway explained his side:
“It rubbed me the wrong way how little Edmonton thought of me in our contract negotiations. I’m an Alberta boy, and I wanted to go back to a team we had success with. But once it was clear they didn’t feel the same way, I was all in on St. Louis.”
The 23-year-old went on to prove his worth, finishing the season with 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 77 games.
Looking Ahead to 2025-26
The only downside to Holloway’s year was an April injury after a hit from Rutger McGroarty, which kept him out for the rest of the season and playoffs. He later revealed the extent of the injury, saying he tore his oblique muscle off the hip bone, requiring surgery.
Despite that setback, Holloway shared that he has been fully healthy for three months and is ready for training camp. With another contract year ahead, he is expected to receive a significant raise if he can build on his breakout campaign.
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